Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         59 19 9321 8682  0.079 38.741    2  0.682    2  0.685    2  0.690    2 0.5644   13  3.987    1  0.742    4  0.639
NUGGETS       49 28 9346 8978  0.010 37.106    7  0.317    7  0.319    7  0.311    7 0.5314    5  4.028    2  0.575   15  0.047
THUNDER       61 16 9153 8276  0.068 37.571    1  0.775    1  0.775    1  0.763    1 0.5722   26  3.927    3  0.507    1  1.020
HEAT          40 37 9267 9101  0.031 38.299   16  0.067   16  0.064   16  0.101   16 0.5059    2  4.053    4  0.499   21 -0.297
CAVALIERS     48 29 9188 8872  0.022 37.627    8  0.303    8  0.304    8  0.290    8 0.5300    7  4.013    5  0.476   12  0.104
HAWKS         44 33 9111 8934  0.008 37.561   11  0.175   11  0.170    9  0.248   11 0.5165    8  4.012    6  0.430   14  0.066
PISTONS       56 21 9046 8440  0.017 36.628    3  0.535    3  0.538    3  0.562    3 0.5529   24  3.940    7  0.371    3  0.753
HORNETS       41 36 8950 8574 -0.010 36.523   17  0.062   17  0.051    5  0.479   17 0.5050   21  3.947    8  0.326    5  0.633
KNICKS        50 28 9109 8631  0.027 37.760    6  0.342    6  0.340    6  0.413    6 0.5335   20  3.950    9  0.273    7  0.552
TIMBERWOLVES  46 30 8953 8670  0.008 36.775   10  0.246   10  0.242   11  0.223   10 0.5241   16  3.983   10  0.254   11  0.192
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        50 27 8974 8856  0.011 37.866    5  0.370    5  0.376   12  0.146    5 0.5361   11  3.991   11  0.220   13  0.073
CELTICS       51 25 8694 8145  0.032 36.696    4  0.419    4  0.414    4  0.515    4 0.5410   29  3.899   12  0.117    2  0.912
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 38 8998 9037 -0.004 38.373   18  0.036   18  0.033   17  0.023   18 0.5023   15  3.985   13  0.062   16 -0.016
76ERS         42 34 8859 8870 -0.018 36.962   14  0.113   14  0.120   18 -0.063   14 0.5108   12  3.988   14 -0.007   19 -0.119
BULLS         29 47 8852 9226 -0.014 38.119   22 -0.274   22 -0.274   22 -0.361   22 0.4715    3  4.042   15 -0.024   27 -0.699
RAPTORS       42 34 8691 8535  0.007 37.163   13  0.127   13  0.124   13  0.136   13 0.5123   23  3.942   16 -0.043   10  0.315
JAZZ          21 56 9034 9659 -0.042 38.438   26 -0.566   26 -0.568   27 -0.570   26 0.4449    1  4.072   17 -0.070   30 -1.070
PELICANS      25 52 8852 9200 -0.006 38.650   23 -0.423   23 -0.425   21 -0.219   23 0.4590    9  4.005   18 -0.074   23 -0.364
CLIPPERS      39 38 8753 8670  0.004 37.746   19  0.022   19  0.014   14  0.132   19 0.5013   25  3.936   19 -0.077    9  0.340
ROCKETS       47 29 8696 8355  0.022 36.940    9  0.290    9  0.288   10  0.240    9 0.5282   28  3.905   20 -0.127    6  0.607
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         40 36 8751 8761  0.010 37.720   15  0.068   15  0.074   19 -0.091   15 0.5065   18  3.967   21 -0.142   18 -0.040
WARRIORS      36 41 8841 8864  0.030 38.791   20 -0.036   20 -0.046   20 -0.091   20 0.4949   19  3.964   22 -0.159   17 -0.024
SUNS          42 35 8687 8572  0.029 38.354   12  0.134   12  0.131   15  0.106   12 0.5128   27  3.922   23 -0.177    8  0.389
GRIZZLIES     25 51 8745 9080 -0.028 37.631   24 -0.432   24 -0.435   23 -0.404   24 0.4579    6  4.013   24 -0.218   25 -0.591
PACERS        18 58 8561 9172 -0.044 37.962   29 -0.659   29 -0.661   25 -0.515   29 0.4363   10  4.000   25 -0.394   26 -0.636
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.034 37.728   25 -0.460   25 -0.459   24 -0.456   25 0.4544   17  3.981   26 -0.436   24 -0.477
WIZARDS       17 59 8566 9449 -0.051 38.420   30 -0.725   30 -0.722   30 -0.764   30 0.4337    4  4.034   27 -0.465   29 -1.062
KINGS         20 57 8537 9321 -0.034 39.092   27 -0.599   27 -0.595   28 -0.676   27 0.4436   14  3.987   28 -0.628   28 -0.725
BUCKS         30 46 8408 8866 -0.032 37.901   21 -0.258   21 -0.252   26 -0.521   21 0.4741   22  3.946   29 -0.683   22 -0.359
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.019 38.852   28 -0.648   28 -0.647   29 -0.696   28 0.4385   30  3.896   30 -1.108   20 -0.284

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        50 27 8974 8856  0.011 37.866    5  0.370    5  0.376   12  0.146    5 0.5361   11  3.991   11  0.220   13  0.073
CLIPPERS      39 38 8753 8670  0.004 37.746   19  0.022   19  0.014   14  0.132   19 0.5013   25  3.936   19 -0.077    9  0.340
WARRIORS      36 41 8841 8864  0.030 38.791   20 -0.036   20 -0.046   20 -0.091   20 0.4949   19  3.964   22 -0.159   17 -0.024
SUNS          42 35 8687 8572  0.029 38.354   12  0.134   12  0.131   15  0.106   12 0.5128   27  3.922   23 -0.177    8  0.389
KINGS         20 57 8537 9321 -0.034 39.092   27 -0.599   27 -0.595   28 -0.676   27 0.4436   14  3.987   28 -0.628   28 -0.725

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       49 28 9346 8978  0.010 37.106    7  0.317    7  0.319    7  0.311    7 0.5314    5  4.028    2  0.575   15  0.047
THUNDER       61 16 9153 8276  0.068 37.571    1  0.775    1  0.775    1  0.763    1 0.5722   26  3.927    3  0.507    1  1.020
TIMBERWOLVES  46 30 8953 8670  0.008 36.775   10  0.246   10  0.242   11  0.223   10 0.5241   16  3.983   10  0.254   11  0.192
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 38 8998 9037 -0.004 38.373   18  0.036   18  0.033   17  0.023   18 0.5023   15  3.985   13  0.062   16 -0.016
JAZZ          21 56 9034 9659 -0.042 38.438   26 -0.566   26 -0.568   27 -0.570   26 0.4449    1  4.072   17 -0.070   30 -1.070

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         59 19 9321 8682  0.079 38.741    2  0.682    2  0.685    2  0.690    2 0.5644   13  3.987    1  0.742    4  0.639
PELICANS      25 52 8852 9200 -0.006 38.650   23 -0.423   23 -0.425   21 -0.219   23 0.4590    9  4.005   18 -0.074   23 -0.364
ROCKETS       47 29 8696 8355  0.022 36.940    9  0.290    9  0.288   10  0.240    9 0.5282   28  3.905   20 -0.127    6  0.607
GRIZZLIES     25 51 8745 9080 -0.028 37.631   24 -0.432   24 -0.435   23 -0.404   24 0.4579    6  4.013   24 -0.218   25 -0.591
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.034 37.728   25 -0.460   25 -0.459   24 -0.456   25 0.4544   17  3.981   26 -0.436   24 -0.477

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     48 29 9188 8872  0.022 37.627    8  0.303    8  0.304    8  0.290    8 0.5300    7  4.013    5  0.476   12  0.104
PISTONS       56 21 9046 8440  0.017 36.628    3  0.535    3  0.538    3  0.562    3 0.5529   24  3.940    7  0.371    3  0.753
BULLS         29 47 8852 9226 -0.014 38.119   22 -0.274   22 -0.274   22 -0.361   22 0.4715    3  4.042   15 -0.024   27 -0.699
PACERS        18 58 8561 9172 -0.044 37.962   29 -0.659   29 -0.661   25 -0.515   29 0.4363   10  4.000   25 -0.394   26 -0.636
BUCKS         30 46 8408 8866 -0.032 37.901   21 -0.258   21 -0.252   26 -0.521   21 0.4741   22  3.946   29 -0.683   22 -0.359

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          40 37 9267 9101  0.031 38.299   16  0.067   16  0.064   16  0.101   16 0.5059    2  4.053    4  0.499   21 -0.297
HAWKS         44 33 9111 8934  0.008 37.561   11  0.175   11  0.170    9  0.248   11 0.5165    8  4.012    6  0.430   14  0.066
HORNETS       41 36 8950 8574 -0.010 36.523   17  0.062   17  0.051    5  0.479   17 0.5050   21  3.947    8  0.326    5  0.633
MAGIC         40 36 8751 8761  0.010 37.720   15  0.068   15  0.074   19 -0.091   15 0.5065   18  3.967   21 -0.142   18 -0.040
WIZARDS       17 59 8566 9449 -0.051 38.420   30 -0.725   30 -0.722   30 -0.764   30 0.4337    4  4.034   27 -0.465   29 -1.062

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KNICKS        50 28 9109 8631  0.027 37.760    6  0.342    6  0.340    6  0.413    6 0.5335   20  3.950    9  0.273    7  0.552
CELTICS       51 25 8694 8145  0.032 36.696    4  0.419    4  0.414    4  0.515    4 0.5410   29  3.899   12  0.117    2  0.912
76ERS         42 34 8859 8870 -0.018 36.962   14  0.113   14  0.120   18 -0.063   14 0.5108   12  3.988   14 -0.007   19 -0.119
RAPTORS       42 34 8691 8535  0.007 37.163   13  0.127   13  0.124   13  0.136   13 0.5123   23  3.942   16 -0.043   10  0.315
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.019 38.852   28 -0.648   28 -0.647   29 -0.696   28 0.4385   30  3.896   30 -1.108   20 -0.284

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 217 168 0.564    1  0.172
ATLANTIC DIVISION  203 179 0.531    2  0.088
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 182 201 0.475    3 -0.022
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 180 203 0.470    4 -0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION   187 198 0.486    5 -0.077
CENTRAL DIVISION   181 201 0.474    6 -0.118

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.139 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.014 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Apr  3 05:30:13 2026
games through: Thu Apr  2 2026

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